Wyoming

Wyoming typically ranks high as a business friendly state when measures involve taxes. As examples, the Tax Foundation’s State Business Tax Climate Index ranked Wyoming #1 in 2014, while the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council’s Small Business Survival Index ranked Wyoming #4 in 2011. These tax advantages also are beneficial for agribusinesses, so contribute to Wyoming’s relatively high ranking in this study. But Wyoming agribusinesses also enjoy other benefits. Infrastructure quality is high relative to most states and educational performance is also well above average in most categories. Government regulation is generally favorable, although the state does impose some air quality standards that are above the federal minimums. The only major drawbacks for agribusiness are some of the more general business climate measures, such as higher than average wages for skilled workers (welders and mechanics), limited availability of land, and a scarce labor supply for agribusinesses.